Parents forcing their son to take a usurious loan
Fatwa No: 121302

Question

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Assalamualikum my question: I have studied in a private college and as the college actually had installment of 500 dollar per month and did not charge any interest. now my parents think that it was not good enough and they want me to go to an university and take a huge loan and including living cost, etc. i can't work full time due to studyload . i worked for a very good and big companies and need to support my wife and having a baby soon. The government loan which is we will need to pay back within 6 months or else interest will be charged . and it will be impossible for me to really pay that much money back in 6 month. In this scenerio do i have to listen to my parents?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

We have already issued Fatwa 84942 clarifying that obedience to parents is only within what is permissible and that it is not permissible to obey them in what is forbidden. Borrowing money with Riba (interest and/or usury) is forbidden except in case of necessity, and it is not a necessity to borrow money for such studies. Therefore, it is not permissible for you to obey your parents in borrowing money with Riba for these studies.

However, if you can achieve the will of your parents and study in this university by earning some lawful money without facing extra difficulty when doing so, then you should do so as Allaah may open many doors of good for you thanks to you being kind and dutiful to your parents.

Allaah Knows best.

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